Justice Idowu Alakija of the Lagos State High Court, sitting at the Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS), has ordered the producers of the movie “Gangs of Lagos“ and Amazon Prime to apologise to the Isale Eko Descendants Union over the wrongful depiction of Isale Eko as a den of criminals and the Eyo Masquerade as a gang of murderers.
Justice Alakija gave the order after all the parties in the suit reached a court of court settlement and presented a consent judgment to her.
The judge also agreed with the applicant‘s position that the movie misrepresented and disrespected the cultural heritage of the well-respected Eyo Masquerade and the peaceful nature and long-standing traditions of the Isale-Eko people.
Consequently, the court ordered the defendants to apologise to the applicants.
The court held, “In consideration of the mutual promises contained herein and as a final settlement of all claims in this suit, the parties have agreed that the third to eleventh respondents shall jointly issue a letter acknowledging the applicants’ concerns regarding the movie titled „Gangs of Lagos“, which they contend portrayed and disparaged the cultural heritage of the Eyo Masquerade and the peaceful nature of the Isale-Eko people. They shall issue an unreserved apology to the applicants in this regard.
“Additionally, the twelfth respondent, Amazon Web Services Nigeria Limited, will issue a letter on its letterhead recognising the applicants’ concerns about the inaccurate portrayal in the film and shall likewise offer an unreserved apology,“ the judge stated.
The Isale Eko Descendants Union, represented by its Chairperson Adeniyi Kazeem (SAN), filed a motion on notice on May 30, 2023, requesting the court to ban the film and seeking an apology from the respondents to the people of Lagos.
The union, acting on behalf of itself and the Isale-Eko Community of Lagos State, includes Chief Ayodele Bajulaiye, Bajulaiye of Lagos (representing himself and the Bajulaiye Chieftaincy Family & Eyo Iga Bajulaiye), and Chief Abdul-Waheed Ayeni, Sasore of Lagos (representing himself and the Sasore Chieftaincy Family & Eyo Iga Sasore), listed as the first to third applicants, respectively.
They instituted the suit against the Attorney General of Lagos State, the Lagos State Film and Video Censors Board, Ms Jadesola Osiberu, Ms Kemi Lala Akindoju, Mr Adesegun Adetoro, Demi Olubanwo, Mr Olumide Soyombo, Mr. Bankole Wellington, Adesua Etomi-Wellington, Mr. Kola Aina, Greoh Limited, and Amazon Web Services Nigeria Limited, all named as respondents.
The applicants sought a court order compelling the first and second respondents to fulfil their statutory duties under the Cinematograph Law of Lagos State and revoke the license and approval given to Greoh Studios and The Make It Happen Productions, producers of Gangs of Lagos, for its allegedly illegal and defamatory portrayal of the Isale-Eko Community as a den of criminals and depicting the revered cultural icon, the Eyo Masquerade, as a gang of murderers and assassins.
Additionally, they asked the court for an order of mandamus requiring the first and second respondents to account for the earnings generated from the unauthorised and defamatory representation in ‚Gangs of Lagos‘ on the part of the twelfth respondent, Amazon Prime Video.
Among other orders, the applicants urged the court to order the first and second respondents to impose a fine of N10 billion against the third to twelfth defendants for their illegal and defamatory representation of the Isale-Eko Community.
